Quintez Cephus

Last updated

Quintez Cephus
20170102 Cotton Bowl UW vs W Mich (56) (35673860231).jpg
Cephus with Wisconsin in 2017
No. 2 – Los Angeles Rams
Position: Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1998-04-01) April 1, 1998 (age 26)
Macon, Georgia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:208 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school: Stratford Academy (Macon, Georgia)
College: Wisconsin (2016–2019)
NFL draft: 2020  / round: 5 / pick: 166
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Practice squad
Career NFL statistics as of Week 8, 2024
Receptions:37
Receiving yards:568
Receiving touchdowns:4
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Quintez Cephus (born April 1, 1998) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League. He played college football at Wisconsin and was selected by the Detroit Lions in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL draft.

Contents

Early life

While playing high school football at Stratford Academy in Macon, Georgia, Cephus played running back, wide receiver and defense, earning a three-star recruiting grade. [1]

College career

Cephus committed to Wisconsin on November 13, 2015. [2] He also received offers from Miami, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt and Georgia Southern. [3] Cephus had also committed to Furman for basketball but decided to pursue football as a "business decision". [2]

During his sophomore season, Cephus caught thirty passes and had his first career collegiate 100-yard receiving game, against Purdue. [1] However, a broken leg, sustained against Indiana on November 4, sidelined Cephus for the rest of the season and required surgery. [4]

After Cephus missed his junior season due to pending legal charges, the NCAA cleared him to play on August 23, 2019. [5] After being expelled and reinstated by the school, Cephus said he returned to the football team because unlike others at the school, the football team never stopped supporting him. [6] Cephus was noted for his ability to separate from defenders on the field of play during his senior season. [7]

On January 6, 2020, Cephus declared for the 2020 NFL draft. The move came after Cephus led the 2019 Badgers team in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. [8] He also participated in the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, where he drew praise from other players at the Combine. [9]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 0+7⁄8 in
(1.85 m)		202 lb
(92 kg)		32+1⁄8 in
(0.82 m)		8+3⁄4 in
(0.22 m)		4.62 s1.60 s2.69 s4.33 s7.20 s38.5 in
(0.98 m)		10 ft 4 in
(3.15 m)		23 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day [10] [11]

Detroit Lions

Cephus was selected at in the fifth round with the 166th overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions. [12] The Lions previously acquired the selection used on Cephus as a result of the trade that sent cornerback Darius Slay to the Philadelphia Eagles. On July 13, 2020, the Lions signed Cephus to a four-year contract. [13] In Week 13, against the Chicago Bears, he scored his first professional touchdown on a 49-yard reception from quarterback Matthew Stafford. [14]

On October 12, 2021, Cephus was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. [15]

On October 8, 2022, Cephus was once again placed on injured reserve. [16]

On April 21, 2023, Cephus was suspended indefinitely (at least one season) after it was discovered he had violated the league’s gambling policy by betting on NFL games. He was subsequently released by the Lions following the incident. [17] [18]

On April 18, 2024, Cephus was reinstated by the NFL. [19]

Buffalo Bills

On April 29, 2024, Cephus signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills, but was released on May 16. [20] [21]

Houston Texans

On July 18, 2024, Cephus signed with the Houston Texans. [22] He was released on August 27. [23]

Los Angeles Rams

On September 18, 2024, Cephus was signed to the Los Angeles Rams practice squad.

NFL career statistics

YearTeamGamesReceivingFumbles
GPGSRecTgtYdsAvgLngTDFDFumLost
2020 DET 132203534917.54921600
2021 DET 53152220413.6462900
2022 DET 4123157.590100
Total226376056815.44942600

Personal life

In the early morning hours of April 22, 2018, Cephus engaged in sexual acts with two women. Cephus claimed the acts were consensual, but the women claimed that they were too drunk to give consent legally and that Cephus sexually assaulted them. [24] Later that day, the Dane County Sheriff's Department searched Cephus' apartment, and in August, Cephus was suspended from the Badgers football team. [25] Also in August, Cephus was formally charged with second- and third-degree counts of sexual assault of an intoxicated victim. [26]

On October 9, Cephus sued the University of Wisconsin-Madison in federal court, stating that the university's Title IX investigation, occurring simultaneously with the Dane County investigation, deprived Cephus of due process relating to the Fifth Amendment. [27] Also in October, Cephus entered a not guilty plea, with a trial set for February, although that was later delayed to August. [28] During spring of 2019, Cephus left the University of Wisconsin-Madison. [29] It was later revealed that he was expelled by the school. [6] In March 2019, Cephus dropped his lawsuit against the university. [24]

On August 2, Cephus was acquitted on both counts. [30] [31] UW later re-admitted Cephus as a student before the 2019 fall semester, citing new information in their investigation. [24]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeAndre Levy</span> American football player (born 1987)

DeAndre Levy is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers, and was selected by the Detroit Lions in the third round of the 2009 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Zeitler</span> American football player (born 1990)

Kevin Zeitler is an American professional football guard for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers, and earned consensus All-American honors. He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft and he has also played for the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, and Baltimore Ravens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jared Abbrederis</span> American football player (born 1990)

Jared Ryan Abbrederis is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football at Wisconsin and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL draft. He was also a member of the Detroit Lions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antonio Callaway</span> American football player (born 1997)

Antonio Callaway is an American professional football wide receiver. He played college football for the Florida Gators, and was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL draft.

Tanner McEvoy is a former American football player. He played primarily as a wide receiver, but also spent time playing quarterback and safety. He played college football at the University of Wisconsin, Arizona Western College, and the University of South Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Erickson</span> American football player (born 1992)

Alex Michael Erickson is an American professional football wide receiver and return specialist who is a free agent. He played college football at Wisconsin and was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2016. Erickson has also been a member of the Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, Washington Commanders, New York Jets, and Los Angeles Chargers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenny Golladay</span> American football player (born 1993)

Kenneth Golladay is an American professional football wide receiver who is a free agent. He has previously played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions and the New York Giants. He played college football for the North Dakota Fighting Hawks and Northern Illinois Huskies and was selected by the Lions in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft. He led the NFL in receiving touchdowns with the Lions in 2019.

Victor Vaughn Bolden Jr. is an American professional football wide receiver. He played college football at Oregon State, and signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2017. In 2022, with the Stallions, he won MVP of the Championship game versus the Philadelphia Stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D. J. Chark</span> American football player (born 1996)

Darrell Demont "D. J." Chark Jr. is an American professional football wide receiver for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the LSU Tigers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tre'Quan Smith</span> American football player (born 1996)

Tre'Quan Smith is an American professional football wide receiver. He has previously played in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints and Denver Broncos. He played college football at UCF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beau Benzschawel</span> American football player (born 1995)

Beau Benzschawel is an American football guard who is a free agent. He played college football at Wisconsin and signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He has also played for the Houston Texans.

Teo Redding is an American professional football wide receiver for the Massachusetts Pirates of the Indoor Football League (IFL). He attended Michigan Collegiate High School. He played college football at Bowling Green and was originally signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He has also been a member of the Washington Redskins, Green Bay Packers, New York Guardians, and Montreal Alouettes.

Tom Kennedy is an American professional football wide receiver for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He is also a former professional lacrosse player. He played college football at Bryant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Detroit Lions season</span> American football team season

The 2020 season was the Detroit Lions' 91st in the National Football League (NFL) and their third and final season under head coach Matt Patricia. The Lions improved on their 3–12–1 record from the previous season, but were eliminated from playoff contention for the fourth consecutive year following their loss to the Tennessee Titans in Week 15. The Lions finished 5–11, and last place in the NFC North for the third consecutive season. Further, the 2020 Lions defense had one of the worst seasons in NFL history, setting franchise records for points allowed and yards allowed in a season, both marks topping the 2008 team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonah Jackson</span> American football player (born 1997)

Jonah Jackson is an American professional football offensive guard for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio State and Rutgers. He has previously played for the Detroit Lions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saivion Smith</span> American football player (born 1997)

Saivion Smith is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He played college football at the University of Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jameson Williams</span> American football player (born 2001)

Jameson Demetri Williams, nicknamed "Jamo", is an American professional football wide receiver for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio State before transferring to Alabama in 2021, where he was named an All-American. Williams was selected by the Lions in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft.

Arlando Dwayne Parker Jr. is an American professional football cornerback. He played college football at Kansas State.

Maurice Alexander Jr. is an American professional football wide receiver. He was selected with the eighth pick in the 17th round of the 2022 USFL draft. He played college football at the Florida International University. After college, he went unsigned as an undrafted free agent in the 2020 NFL draft.

Stanley Berryhill III is an American professional football wide receiver for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Arizona.

References

  1. 1 2 Kirk, Otis (May 14, 2018). "PFF has Wisconsin wide receiver at top of one category". 247Sports. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  2. 1 2 Polack, Nick (November 13, 2015). "Wisconsin football recruiting: Quintez Cephus commits to Badgers". Bucky's 5th Quarter. SBNation. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Quintez Cephus Interests". 247Sports. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  4. ↑ Galloway, Jason (November 10, 2017). "Badgers football: Wisconsin's Quintez Cephus to miss rest of season after undergoing surgery on right leg". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  5. ↑ "NCAA clears Wisconsin WR Quintez Cephus to play". USA Today. August 23, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  6. 1 2 Potrykus, Jeff (August 19, 2019). "UW reinstates former wide receiver Quintez Cephus as a student". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Gannett. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  7. ↑ Morley, Jacob (March 14, 2020). "Draftmas Week 6: Quintez Cephus, Jabari Zuniga". Packer Report. 247Sports. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  8. ↑ Potrykus, Jeff (January 6, 2020). "UW wide receiver Quintez Cephus will skip his final season of eligibility and enter the NFL draft". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Gannett. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  9. ↑ Kocorowski, Jake (February 28, 2020). "Quintez Cephus 2020 NFL Scouting Combine Results". AllBadgers. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Quintez Cephus Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  11. ↑ "2020 NFL Draft Scout Quintez Cephus College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  12. ↑ Alter, Marlowe (April 25, 2020). "Detroit Lions take WR Quintez Cephus in NFL draft with pick from Darius Slay trade". Detroit Free Press . Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  13. ↑ Schlitt, Erik (July 8, 2020). "Lions sign 5th-round WR Quintez Cephus". lionswire.com. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears - December 6th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  15. ↑ Birkett, Dave (October 11, 2021). "Detroit Lions' Quintez Cephus suffers broken collarbone". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  16. ↑ @Lions (October 8, 2022). "#Lions announce roster moves: Signed WR Maurice Alexander and CB AJ Parker to the Active Roster from the Practice Squad Elevated DB Saivion Smith and K Michael Badgley to the Active/Inactive List from the Practice Squad Placed WR Quintez Cephus on the Reserve/Injured List" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  17. ↑ Layton, Jeremy (April 21, 2023). "Jameson Williams, four other NFL players suspended for gambling". New York Post. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  18. ↑ Woodyard, Eric (April 21, 2023). "WR Williams, 3 other Lions suspended for betting". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  19. ↑ "NFL Reinstates Ex-Lions WR Quintez Cephus, More After Indefinite Gambling Suspensions". April 18, 2024.
  20. ↑ Glab, Maddy (April 29, 2024). "Bill sign WR Quintez Cephus to one-year deal". BuffaloBills.com.
  21. ↑ Glab, Maddy (May 16, 2024). "Bills sign safety Dee Delaney". BuffaloBills.com.
  22. ↑ "Houston Texans Transactions (07-18-2024)". HoustonTexans.com. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Houston Texans Transactions (08-27-2024)". HoustonTexans.com. August 27, 2024.
  24. 1 2 3 McCain, Michael (September 7, 2019). "After Re-Admitting Quintez Cephus, Wisconsin Could Face a Tough Legal Battle". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  25. ↑ Goldberg, Rob (August 20, 2018). "Wisconsin WR Quintez Cephus Suspended After Being Charged with Sexual Assault". Bleacher Report. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  26. ↑ Trelevan, Ed (August 21, 2018). "Wisconsin receiver Quintez Cephus charged with sex assaults of two women". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  27. ↑ Trelevan, Gary (October 10, 2018). "Quintez Cephus sues UW, says disciplinary investigation violating his rights". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  28. ↑ "Trial for suspended Badgers football player facing sexual assault charges delayed". Channel 3000. February 11, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  29. ↑ Galli, Tony (March 28, 2019). "Former Badger wide receiver Cephus leaves school". WKOW. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  30. ↑ Andrea, Lawrence (August 2, 2019). "Ex-Badgers player Quintez Cephus found not guilty of two counts of sexual assault". JSOnline.com. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  31. ↑ Wells, Adam (August 2, 2019). "Ex-Wisconsin WR Quintez Cephus Found Not Guilty of Alleged Sexual Assault". Bleacher Report. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.